Chapter 5 Accusations (Oct. 3rd, 6:00 AM)

I woke up the next morning to hear someone pounding on the door. "GO AWAY!" I shouted in reply. "This is the Wutai Guard! Open up at once!" I groaned and got up. I opened the door and glared at the Captain angrily. "What is it?" I asked. I still wore my pajamas and the others were still asleep. "Are you Danielle Gast?" he asked me. "Yeah, is something wrong?" I replied anxious to get back to sleep. I wouldn't be returning to sleep anytime soon. "You and everyone in Avalanche are under arrest for the murders of Lord Godo and the Pagoda Gods." "WHAT!?" I replied in amazement. "Detain her and the others in this room." I was immediately grabbed and someone pulled my arms behind my back and put handcuffs on me. The other guards went after the sleeping girls. "Tifa, Yuffie, Aeris, Brandy!" I shouted, "Wake up and get out of here NOW!" The guard that held me slapped me and put a hand over my mouth. The girls obviously didn't hear me since I heard shouts of anger coming from the bedrooms as the girls were led out handcuffed. "What's going on here!? I'm Yuffie Kisaragi! Daughter of Lord Godo! Release me at once!" The guards dragged us to the prison and there we were separated. "Take them to the cell with the others," said the captain, motioning to Tifa, Yuffie, Aeris, and Brandy. "This one will go to the interrogation room." "Yes, Sir!" ******* Crono woke up the guys in his group and showed them a newspaper. The headline said, 'AVALANCHE ARRESTED FOR MURDERS OF PAGODA GODS.' "That isn't true," said Robo, "They were at a meeting with us last night. Except for Sephiroth and Danielle, that is." "We have to think of a way to get them out of there," said Magus, "Although I don't want to say it, They can help us. We may need them, and that Danielle girl... I sense strong magic in her. I want to know what she is." Frog nodded. "I hath sensed it as well. To findeth them and rescue them would be the best thing." "We'll have to wait a while. Let the girls sleep. We need Lucca awake to think up a battle plan," said Crono. ******* "Where's Danielle?" asked Sephiroth as the girls were shoved in. He hoped that I had been able to escape so I could rescue them after finding Crono's team and Aya. "They took her to the Interrogation Room," answered Tifa from Cloud's embrace. 'Damn it!' thought Barret. "Oh F^&% !'' shouted Cid as Sephiroth paled visably. ******* (6:30 AM) "Why did you murder Lord Godo and the Pagoda gods?" asked the captain of the guard. "We didn't murder them," I replied, my green eyes blazing, "They are our allies! Yuffie is a member of our team!" One of the guards slapped me. I felt my lip split and blood began seeping out of the small wound. "Why!?" "We didn't do it!" The guard grabbed a nightstick and thumbed up the power a lot and shocked me with the electrical energy. "I ask one last time, girl... Why did you murder them!?" "I'll say it again, you bastard, WE DIDN'T DO IT!!" One of the guards tied the rope binding my hands to a chain hanging from the ceiling as another grabbed a coiled whip which he shook out... ******* (6:45 AM) My screams echoed through the base as I was repeatedly struck with the whip. Sephiroth heard the screams and reached out mentally to me. 'Danielle!' he shouted. 'How.... Are you...?' 'You have Jenova cells...I can speak in your mind. Are you alright?' 'Seph...it...hurts...so..much..' 'Danielle! Be strong!' he replied. I screamed again. ******* (7:30 AM) The whip struck me again causing another red slash on my back. "Stop," said a commanding female voice. In walked a girl in the cerimonial robes of Wutai. "Yuf...Yuffie..?" I stammered, coughing blood. "Why did you kill my father and the others?" she asked. "You...know..we..didn't..." I replied weakly. "Continue until she's ready to talk." The guard picked up the whip and raised it over his head, beginning another round. ******* Sephiroth paced around the cell nervously. He was really pale and on the verge of panic. "Sephiroth, calm down. She'll be alright," said Vincent. Another scream reached his ears. "Are you sure about that, Vincent?" he replied, "How can I be calm? My fiancee is being tortured!" Cloud's eyes narrowed. "Fiancee? Since when have you two been ENGAGED?" asked Cloud. "Are you serious!?" asked Barret. "Anyone have a problem with the fact Danielle is my fiancee?" said Sephiroth, dangerously. Brandy just stared on as an eerie silence settled over the team. ******* (10:30 AM) The guards roughly pushed me into the cell. I was so weak, I stumbled and fell in front of Cid, who caught me to save me from another wound. "It's Danielle!" he said loudly. Sephiroth kneeled beside me, examining my wounds. "This is bad. She has many cuts, and internal injuries. She could slip into a coma from loss of blood." "Can you heal her, Aeris?" asked Cloud. "No...there's an anti-magic field here. The only thing I can do is pray," she replied. Sephiroth pulled off his cloak and began tearing the black material into large strips. "There's...a Yuf..Yuffie... imposter..." I managed to whisper to Cloud. "Don't talk, Danni," said Brandy quietly, "Save your strength." "Is there any water left?" asked Sephiroth. Brandy knelt next to him holding a bowl of water. He dipped one of the strips into the water and began cleaning the cuts. "Ahh..." I moaned, "That hurts..." "I'm sorry, Danni. It has to be done." I nodded weakly and passed out. Sephiroth finished cleaning the cuts and with Brandy's help, used the larger strips for bandages. Then he picked me up, mindful not to touch my wounds and laid me on the cot on my stomach and pulled the blanket up to my shoulders. He sat next to me and let me sleep. ******* (same time) "You have done well, 'Yuffie'. Jenova and Lavos will be pleased," said Eve. "Thank you, Mistress. What shall I do with them..?" "Execute them, and then we shall not have to worry about them anymore." ******* (an hour later) "You are to be executed tomorrow at 10:00 AM," sneered one of the guards as they pushed a slightly beaten up Sephiroth into the cell. Sephiroth wasn't as bad off as I was. He only had a bloody nose and a cut lip paired up with a broken arm that his Jenova cells were speedily healing. "On what charge?" asked Red. "The murders of Lord Godo and the Pagoda gods. This is a very serious crime." "Daddy....is dead..?" whispered Yuffie, with tears in her eyes. "Yes, Lady Yuffie's father is dead. He was murdered last night at midnight. She says YOU are an imposter." "I am not the imposter! She is!" Yuffie replied, showing a photo and a certificate from her pocket. "These are a picture of my mother, father, and me as a baby, and this is my birth certificate. I never go anywhere without them." The guards kneeled. "You ARE Lady Yuffie!" "Nah duh! I'm the only me! You should know I HATE wearing my cerimonial robes! Now, let us out of here!" "You are free to go ma'am, but they must stay. They are still charged." Yuffie sighed and looked at Cloud. "I'll take care of it," she whispered. Cloud nodded and Yuffie was led out. Sephiroth returned to the cot and noticed my labored breathing. "Strife, Aeris. Come here," he said urgently. When they came to his side, they noticed as well. "She's not going to last much longer. She's fighting but... she needs to get to a hospital. Fast." "What can we do? All our weapons are back at the Inn and there's an anti- magic field in place," commented Cloud. Aeris nodded. She struggled for a few moments and managed to summon up a weak 'Healing Wind'. It healed Sephiroth's cuts and my breathing became a little easier. "That's the best I can do.. She'll be ok, for a little longer." Sephiroth nodded. "I know...Thanks Aeris." "Do you think Yuffie can do it..?" asked Brandy quietly. "We're doomed," replied Rufus. "That's not funny, Rufus!" she replied, hitting him playfully. "I have faith in her. If they torture any of us like they tourtured Danielle, I'm not sure if they would make it. We have limited resources... They might die..." responded Sephiroth. The night passed slowly for Avalanche, everyone silently praying and taking turns watching me. ******* Yuffie ran to the inn and managed to find Crono and team still trying to think up a plan. "Yuffie! How'd you get away!?" asked Lucca. "I proved I was the real Yuffie. There's an imposter of me running around. I've got a plan to help them. We need to get their gear and we need the Epoch. Danielle is hurt badly. Sephiroth and Aeris estimate she only has a little while left unless we get her medical attention as soon as possible." Yuffie grabbed a piece of paper and a pen. She began drawing up the plan and a map. "Crono, I need you, Magus, and Robo to be positioned here, in the woods. Ayla and Frog, I need you by the stream. Lucca and Marle, You lay down cover fire from the Epoch with the lasers and Marle's crossbow. There will be a lot of guards. We have to think of a way to get all of their equipment to them. I'll battle the imposter directly and will be positioned here. We need to end this battle as quickly as possible so we can get Danielle to the hospital. We have to be in position by 10:00. That is when the 'execution' will take place. Time is of the utmost importance." The crew nodded. "Aya, you go with Frog and Ayla and use your powers to cover them from behind. You three need to get their equipment back to them. I'll return Cloud's sword." Aya nodded. "Alright. Round up the equipment and get some rest. It's going to be a long day tomorrow." Everyone left the room and Yuffie began to polish her shruiken. 'Tomorrow, you shall meet your end for killing my father.....' thought Yuffie bitterly. ******* (Oct. 4th. 10:00 AM) (Wutai execution grounds)

The guards had everyone chained and were leading us toward the execution grounds..and the waiting executioner. I had barely managed to wake up that morning and was stumbling along, barely able to stand up. Sephiroth and Aeris were helping me as best they could, but the guards had no pity. When I stumbled, they would hit me in the back with the butt of their gun. The imposter was waiting there, wearing her robes. "You are all charged for murder. One of you may have escaped and taken half of my force, but I will find her. I still have almost a whole army waiting under my command. The sentence for you...is death. Aeris Gainsborough shall be the first to die." "NO! Leave her alone! Let me die first!" said Cloud. "How cute. Aeris shall die first. Then Tifa, Danielle, and Brandy. You, Cloud, shall be the last to fall," she said. "I think NOT!" shouted a voice. Cloud's Ultima Weapon was flying through the air as the Epoch soared overhead, laser firing. Cloud held up his chains and the mighty blade cut them easily and imbedded itself in the ground. He then grabbed it and began to cut everyone elses chains as many guards came up and began to fight. Crono, Magus, and Robo appeared from the forest as Ayla, Frog and Aya appeared by the stream and began returning everyone's equipment. Lucca and Marle continued to shoot oncoming guards with lasers and crossbow. Cloud cut my chain and Sephiroth led me away from the fight, noticing I had passed out again. Tifa came over to guard me as Sephiroth laid me down against a tree and summoned his sword to him. "Guard her with your life, Tifa." She nodded and assumed a battle stance as Sephiroth ran to join the battle. The person jumped from a roof, tossing my sword to Sephiroth. "Yuffie!" shouted Brandy as she used her burning rage. Yuffie threw her Conformer at the evil one and she ducked pulling out a Crystal Cross. "You and me, Girl! You and me!" "Gladly!" Yuffie replied running up and using her 'Doom of the Living' limit break. She began slashing like crazy for a few moments and then jumped away. "No magic," said the evil one countering with a Greased Lightning. "Fine," replied Yuffie, smiling and using her 'All Creation'. The bright red explosion sent the imposter off her feet but she was up again in a moment. They continued to exchange limit breaks for a few minutes til Yuffie got fed up and a red materia began to glow in her weapon. "Tidal Wave!" "What!?!?" shouted the evil one as Leviathan appeared and began charging it's energy. "You said NOTHING about summons!" Yuffie replied as the evil one was buried beneath the waves. The Epoch made another pass, lasers firing as well as the girls onboard. At least 15 enemies went down right there. Rufus and Brandy teamed up to take out another 5 as Sephiroth, Cloud and Crono cut through one after another. Magus had teamed up with Glenn and brought down another group. "Combustion!" shouted Aya, setting another group on fire with her Parasite Energy. "Ultimate End!" shouted Cloud, fed up with all the enemies. "It's about time!" shouted Barret as the first knight appeared. 13 attacks later, the flow of enemies stopped and Sephiroth hurried through the crowd to find Tifa kneeling at my side, feeling for a pulse. "We're losing her!" she shouted. Sephiroth hurridly picked me up as Lucca landed near Tifa and Sephiroth. "Jump in! Go get her help!" shouted Ayla from behind. Sephiroth and Tifa jumped in. "Meet us at Wutai Hospital!" shouted Tifa to the rest of the team as Lucca sped off. ******* (5 mins later) "We need a doctor, quick!" said Sephiroth as they ran inside. A doctor immediately came over. "Follow me, and we'll try to get her stabilized." They ran to an empty ER and quickly laid me down. "What happened?" he asked as he gave me a shot. "She was beaten. Tortured with a whip, nightstick, and slapped, while the rest of us sat in a prison cell, being framed for a murder," replied Sephiroth as the doctor began to examine me further and occasionally using major cure spells. "Her internal injuries are too bad, and she's fallen into a coma. She's stable for the moment, but she needs a mako, and blood transfusion. It's very risky. No woman has survived it." Sephiroth then did something that he hadn't ever done in his life: He prayed. "She has Jenova cells. She's no ordinary woman....but I don't know... I don't want to lose her..." ******* (same time) Yuffie strolled through her house, looking at the signs of the struggle. "Daddy... I'm so sorry..." she whispered. The rest of Avalanche and Crono's team had run to the hospital, while she came here. "Lady Yuffie?" said a man, who was wounded in the arm. He had come from the room that led to the secret basement. "Shake!" she replied, "You're not dead!" He shook his head. "Come with me, quickly. He led her down into the basement where she found the rest of the Pagoda gods. "Chektov! Gorkii! Staniv! You're all alive! Is my Father ok!?" she asked. "No, he's fading fast, Miss Yuffie," replied Staniv. They led her to another room where her father was lying on a cot, his chest bleeding badly. "Leave us," she commanded. "Yes, ma'am." They left and gently shut the door. "Daddy...?" she whispered kneeling next to the cot. "Yuff...Yuffie...?" "Hold on, Dad," she replied, digging out a green materia, "Full Cure." A bright light surrounded Godo and his wound healed. He sat up and hugged Yuffie. "My daughter... You came back." "Of course I did! I had to." "There is an imposter of you.. She tried to murder us. We couldn't hold her off." "It's ok. I took care of her, but she had her men torture Danielle. She wounded very badly. She also tried to have us executed. Danielle's at the Hospital. Last I heard, she was barely breathing and her pulse was fading fast." "Let's go see her. Maybe we can help somehow." Yuffie nodded as she and her father left the basement after curing the others. ******* (2 mins later) Sephiroth paced in the waiting room of the hospital, trying to decide what to do. 'Oh God, If you have any pity, let her be alright,' he prayed. Yuffie and Godo walked in and hurridly said 'hi' to the team who sat around the waiting room watching Sephiroth. "How is she?" Yuffie asked the warrior. "Bad. Her internal injuries have gotten worse. She's in a coma too. The doctor says she needs a mako, and blood transfusion," he replied. "The mako could kill her!" said Yuffie, alarmed. "I know. I haven't given the ok yet." "She probably won't make it if you don't," said Godo quietly, "You must make the desicion. Without the transfusion, she will surely die. With the transfusion, she has a chance, although a slim one. I can tell you care for her greatly. Make the choice in your heart. Give her that chance." Sephiroth sat in a chair and put his face in his hands. "I just can't lose her now..." ******* (11:07 AM) "Danielle," said Brandy as she sat next to my hospital bed, "I don't know if you can hear me, but you have to make it. You're my best friend. We have to see Marisol again, both of us. We promised to meet again someday. I know she's still alive. I know you can pull through this. You can't leave us yet. We still have to pulverize Jenova!" "Brandy," said Aeris poking her head in the door, "Time's up." Brandy nodded, set my backpack against the wall, and left right behind Aeris, tears slipping down her face. When she returned to Rufus, she collapsed into his arms sobbing quietly. "We need an answer NOW, Mr. Alexandros. Any further delay and you may miss the window of opportunity and it will be too late to save her," said Doctor Wright, "She needs this transfusion." Sephiroth nodded. "Do it." Wright nodded and hurried off. The team looked down the hallway as my bed was rolled out of the room and into the OR. "Be strong, Danni..." whispered Tifa. "Danielle strong. She no die," said Ayla confidently. "You're right. She won't give up," said Brandy. "She hath a strong spirit..and a good heart," added Frog. "She'll be ok," said Cloud reassuringly, "Don't worry." Sephiroth looked up from his prayer. "I hope you're right, Strife...I hope you're right." ******* The woman walked up to the hospital's glass doors and saw Avalanche waiting nervously in the waiting room. 'There's Brandy... Wait a sec! Where's Danielle!?' she thought. She shifted her sniper rifle on her back and walked back to the Inn. ******* (2:30 PM) The doctor finally came out of the OR and began to walk down the hall. "There he is!" said Brandy. Sephiroth looked up from his prayer and stood up. "How is she, Doc?" asked Barret, worridly. "The transfusion went well. She seems to be adjusting to the mako and materia energy in her body, but she's still in a coma. It should be breaking anytime now, but I'm not 100% positive. Other than that, She'll be fine." "Can we see her?" asked Red. "Only for a few minutes. She needs rest." The team came into my hospital room where I lay in bed, my chest wrapped in bandages. Sephiroth sat in a chair next to the bed and grasped my left hand. "Come on girl, wake up..." said Cid quietly. "Danni..." said Brandy loud enough for me to hear, "...Jenova's here!" The life signs on my monitors shot up and I opened my eyes and sat up. "Where!?" I answered. The team laughed as Brandy said, "Works every time." I smiled. The Avalanche team stared at my eyes. "What? Did I turn purple..? Sprout another arm..?" I asked, looking at myself. "No...your eyes...." whispered Lucca. "They're glowing..." whispered Marle. "It's from the mako. She just like a Soldier, except she has materia fused into the mako to counteract the poison," said Dr. Wright, walking in. "My god...." whispered Tifa. Godo smiled and put a hand on my shoulder. "I'm sorry for everything that has happened. I hope this will not make you hate Wutai." "No, of course not. I blame that imposter." "She was created by Eve," said Aya, "I could sense the mutated Mitochondria." "Solves that mystery...How long do I have to stay? I've got some alien butt to kick!" I said. "At least 2 days, to be sure you've recovered enough." "You are strong," said Godo, "Someday, I would like you to come teach a special elite of fighters and train them in the art of materia and maybe, someday, they will be of help to Avalanche." "I might take you up on that. When this job is finished anyway," I replied. Sephiroth smiled. "Alright everyone, the paitent needs rest, out." "Alright. Heal fast, Danni. We're not going anywhere without you, ok?" said Cloud. "Deal." Cloud and the rest of the team left after saying good-bye, but Sephiroth was allowed to stay with me. ******* (2 days later) (8:30 AM) I woke up with my head feeling heavy. 'What kind of sleeping pill did they give me last night...?' I thought to myself. I noticed Sephiroth was still asleep, curled up in the chair like a kitten. I smiled and began to review my memories of everything that had happened. I shuddered as I remembered Hojo, the Yuffie imposter, and my torture. The doctor came in after a while to release me. "Good-morning, Ms. Gast. How are you today, my girl?" "Shh!" I replied, motioning to Sephiroth. He nodded. "I'm feeling much better. So, can I leave today..?" I asked anxiously. Sephiroth stirred and opened his eyes slowly. "Good morning, Mr. Alexandros." "Good morning." "In answer to your question, yes. You can leave whenever you're ready. Just make sure you don't allow yourself to get tortured like that again. Due to the enormity of your transfusion, the materia in your body stimulates your magic capabilities. Now you can use spells without having the materia anywhere near you. You are the only woman to ever survive this operation." "My God...." I whispered. The doctor nodded. "Dr. Wright, report to the OR immediately. Dr. Wright, report to the OR immediately," droned the intercom. "I must go, you may leave anytime. Good- bye, Ms. Gast, Mr. Alexandros." We nodded and he ran out of the room. I went to my pack and withdrew some clothes. I went into the bathroom to change. *******

(1 hour later) (Highwind meeting room) "I want you guys to have my materia," I told Aya and the timetravellers. "WHAT!?" asked Crono. "I don't need them anymore." "Danielle, are you alright?" asked Cloud, from the commander's chair. "Of course I am. You don't believe the fact I don't need them anymore..? I'll prove it." I stood up and led everyone outside and found a herd of Dark Dragons nearby. I handed my sword and gold armlets to Sephiroth. "She's going unarmed!?" said Brandy in suprise. "Sephiroth! Aren't you going to stop her!?" asked Cloud in anger. I walked into the midst of the herd as the dragons began to notice me. "You have the only Knights of the Round materia, correct?" Sephiroth asked Cloud. The blonde man nodded and turned his attention to me. 'Knights summon,' he told me mentally. I began to move my arms the way I did when I summoned and the group noticed the multi-colored lights of a summon spell before I shouted, "Ultimate End!" The 13 knights appeared and used various magic and attacks and killed off most of the herd. "Who has Ultima?" asked Sephiroth. Cid raised his spear a bit. 'Ultima.' I nodded and shouted, "Ultima!" as the green aura of magic surrounded me. The spell looked like a nuclear explosion of green light and power and killed off the rest of the herd. "She's like a human materia!" said Rufus, his eyes glinting at the millions he could make off of me. "Don't even think about it, Shinra," said Barret. Rufus pouted slightly as I began to return to the group. "Can I have her?" asked Yuffie. "Nope, No one is going to use her. Those powers belong to her alone and if I find out that anyone uses her for those powers, they'll deal with me," threatened Sephiroth, looking at Rufus. I retrieved my things from Sephiroth and took out all of the materia from my sword and armor. I gave Alexander and Mime* to Crono, Comet and Seal to Marle, Restore and All to Lucca, Fire and Barrier to Robo, Ice and Gravity to Ayla, Lightning and Confusion to Frog, Enemy Skill* and Time to Aya, and Poison and Transform to Magus and one HP plus to each of the above mentioned. (Note: The *ed materia are Mime and Enemy Skill in that order.) It was all mastered. They looked in awe- "Awww...." they said. (Goddess Aeris: AWE! A- W-E!!!) "Oooohhhh..." (Goddess Aeris: That's better.) "Thanks Danielle," they said. There was a roar. "Heads up!" shouted Cloud. "Falcon hit!" Crono shouted. Ayla motioned to Crono and he ran to her. She threw him up in the air and he flew by the dragon's head slashing into it. It roared again and died as Crono came to land by Yuffie. "Cool!" she shouted. "Thanks," he replied, "It took a long time to learn." We returned to the airship. ******* (12:30 PM) (observation deck) "When should we get married?" asked Sephiroth as we watched the clouds float by. I hugged him. "I don't know. I kinda want it to be a big wedding and I want everyone there... so maybe... sometime after this war is over..." He nodded and I let go. Something flew overhead and suddenly rammed into the other side of the ship. I lost my balance and flew over the railing. "Sephiroth!!!!!!" I screamed. "Danielle!" He ran forward and jumped over the railing after me as the rest of the team ran toward the front of the ship to see what had caused the accident, Cid cursing like a sailor the whole time... ******* "Danni!" shouted Sephiroth as we both fell toward the ground. He kept his arms by his sides and fell even faster and finally caught up with me. He hugged me close. "What are we going to do!?" I asked keeping an eye upon the approaching ground. Sephiroth closed his eyes in intense concentration and began to transform. "What the...?" I said as I let go. His legs transformed into enormous white wings with soft feathers. His right arm became a large black angel wing and a double halo appeared over his head. His eyes shone a brilliant shade of green and I knew.... "My God...." ....Sephiroth had become the one-winged angel, once more.